Schmalz Elementary Everything you always wanted to know about 5 th grade!!

1. Schmalz ElementaryEverything you always wanted to know about 5th grade!! 2013-2014

2. Teachers: • Lisa Castecka: Reading/LA • Yvette Foster: Science • Donna Kalman: Social Studies • Nancy Mecklenburg: Math • Joy Moore: Science • Janelle Steves: Social Studies • Melissa Wright: Math • Erin Zimmerman: Reading/LA

3. Math • Spiral- Notes/examples, daily warm-ups, • Quizzes every week to 7 days- based on homework • Major tests- review sheet will come home 2 days before. Complete at home, go over in class. • Homework every night!!! SHOW ALL WORK!!! • Fast facts every Friday- Students making less than 90 will be rewarded Monday for doing the FF homework/practice over the weekend. • Mountain Math- will start 2nd semester • Cumulative review short quiz- 1 per week- review of any skill covered to that point. • ALL WORK MUST BE SHOWN! Answers only will NOT be accepted!

4. Reading • Reading Log will begin the week of September 9; no parent signature is required; students must read 20+ minutes per day • Reader’s Workshop with an interactive student notebook (BINDER) • Comprehension tests: not given weekly but may go along with a book or poem we are studying in class • Reading strategies- strategies are part of the grade • Major research project (in the last nine weeks) • Spelling is not a grade on the report card • Parent resources are on the katyisd website

5. Language Arts Writing and Language Arts will be integrated through Reading and is not a separate block! • Library every other week on Friday • Quizzes- unannounced • Grammar teach/review • Writing in different genres • Major Research Project

6. Science • Note taking skills • Hands on investigations • Workbooks assignments (classwork) • Daily Science Review • STAAR Science Practice • Study Guides • Vocabulary Development • Science Projects • Tests and Quizzes will be given about every other week

7. Social Studies • Geography Review- graded weekly • Curriculum covers 400+ years. • All work is kept in an interactive notebook • Quizzes- may use notebook • Periodic memorizing (done in class) • Historical plays • Please do not take any papers out of the social studies section of the organizer

8. Specials • PE – 2 days- wear tennis shoes!! • Art- 1 day • Music- 1 day • Friday- rotation day

9. Organizer • Goes home every day • Graded work and flyers go home every Tuesday- please take them out!! • 6 - 9 pockets preferred • Pockets: • tracker • homework • math • reading • social studies • science

10. Tracker/Planner • Required! Must have every day • Students copy assignments in every subject from each teachers homework board- teachers will put a or their initials to show the students wrote it down correctly. • Please review assignments written in tracker with your child** if they say, “I finished that”, PLEASE ask to see it! • Teacher will put time on tracker for RR break • If you still need to purchase a tracker, they are $3.00

11. If your child is absent • They need to talk to each teacher regarding what they missed and when/how they can make it up. • If your child will be out for more than 1 day, you can call the front office by 9:00 am to ask for make up work. You may pick it up by 3:00, or have it sent home with another child. • We can not send home work for an absence ahead of time.

12. 5th grade programs/activities • Student council – campaign begins September 23 • Safety patrol- must be car rider or walker/YMCA and have passing grades and good conduct • Recycling • Kindergarten helpers on field day • 5th grade end of year parties • Shark Jam activities • Field trip

13. Dates to remember: • Math Night October 17th • Picture Day: October 16th • Game Day: October 25th

14. Mandatory Testing • STAAR Math: April 1st • STAAR Reading: April 2nd • STAAR Science: April 23rd

15. 5th Grade Expectations: • Students will always be: Safe Respectful Responsible

16. Discipline Card • Will come home every Tuesday for a parent signature (no initials please) • Students will earn a “shark smile” for getting card signed and returned Wednesday • If you have questions about the card, please write a separate note or email the teacher • An office referral will be recorded as an “N” in self discipline • Shark jam sessions based on homework marks • Loss of card is a U in organization

17. 5th grade conferences • A summary of your child’s strengths/weaknesses in each subject and behavior will come after the 1st nine weeks. • Please review the comments made with your child. If you feel you need to discuss your child in a personal or phone conference after reviewing the information, you may return the form to set up a time.

18. How do I contact you? • Our conference time is 2:30-3:20. If you contact us, please realize we are teaching until 2:30 and may not get your email before then. • Email is the best and quickest way to get in touch with us: lisaacasteckayvetterfoster donnakalmannancykmecklenburg joylmoorejanellersteves melissawrighterinezimmerman @katyisd.org

19. QUESTIONS???

20. Looking forward to another FABULOUS year!!!!!!